Editing Casting Crowns (section)

==History==

=== Early years, initial success, and early history ===
Casting Crowns was formed in 1999 at First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last=Norris |first=Jane |date=May 18, 2009 |title=There's No Slow Fade in the Forecast for Casting Crowns |url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/cdp/entertainment/music/article/theres_no_slow_fade_in_the_forecast_for_casting_crowns/40282/ |url-status=dead |journal=[[The Daily Progress]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110814021050/http://www.dailyprogress.com/cdp/entertainment/music/article/theres_no_slow_fade_in_the_forecast_for_casting_crowns/40282/ |archive-date=August 14, 2011 |access-date=July 4, 2009}}</ref> Led by Mark Hall, singer-songwriter and youth pastor, the group initially included guitarists Juan DeVevo and Hector Cervantes, violinist Melodee DeVevo, and drummer Rob Cervantes. They relocated to [[McDonough, Georgia|McDonough]] in 2001,<ref name=":0" /> adding Chris Huffman on bass, Megan Garrett on keyboards and accordion, and drummer Andy Williams. 

The augmented version of Casting Crowns released two independent albums on CD, both of which were well received in the [[Atlanta]] area. Both independent albums were efforts on the part of Hall and the rest of the group as outreach projects for youth in the area.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Owen | first=Linda | title=Casting Crowns' "Who Am I" | journal=[[Christianity Today]] | date=November 2005 |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2005/novdec/14.13.html | access-date=October 15, 2009 }}</ref> The group won the GMA regional songwriters competition at [[Palm Beach Atlantic University]] in [[West Palm Beach, Florida]] in both the "Best Song" and the "Best Artist" categories in 2004. 

Although the group was not looking for a record label, one of the group's albums found its way into the hands of Mark Miller, the lead singer for country group [[Sawyer Brown]], who was struck by Casting Crowns' driving pop/rock style and Hall's vocal delivery of hard-hitting but devout songs. Miller signed Casting Crowns to his fledgling [[Beach Street Records]], a division of [[Reunion Records]] with distribution by the Provident Label Group, which made Casting Crowns the first artist signed to Beach Street Records.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Herman | first=Michael | title=Overnight Sensation | journal=[[Christianity Today]] | year=2004 |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2004/castingcrowns-0204.html | access-date=October 8, 2009 }}</ref> 

Miller took the group to record with co-producer [[Steven Curtis Chapman]], himself a popular artist on the CCM musical scene. ''[[Casting Crowns (album)|Casting Crowns]]'', that [[Eponym|eponymous]] album was released in 2003 on the Beach Street imprint. The album quickly made them one of the fastest selling debut artists in Christian music history. The album's third single, "[[Voice of Truth (song)|Voice of Truth]]", spent a record-breaking fourteen consecutive weeks at No.&nbsp;1 beginning in 2003. "Voice of Truth" is also used in the [[trailer (film)|trailer]] and the ending from the movie ''[[Facing the Giants]]'', a Kendrick Brothers film. The album was certified platinum in 2005;<ref name="riaa">{{cite web|title=RIAA – Gold & Platinum Searchable Database |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626050454/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |archive-date=June 26, 2007  }}</ref> in 2011, the group received their first gold certification for a single for the song "[[Who Am I (Casting Crowns song)|Who Am I]]" from their debut record.

''[[Lifesong]]'' followed in 2005, debuting at No.&nbsp;9 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart. The album had three singles: "Lifesong", "Praise You in this Storm", and "Does Anybody Hear Her?". "[[Lifesong (song)|Lifesong]]" spent nine weeks in the top spot, with "Praise You in This Storm" remaining at No.&nbsp;1 for seven weeks. Apart from being successful in the charts, ''Lifesong'' earned Casting Crowns their first Grammy Award for their work on the album in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2005 Grammy Winners: 48th Annual Grammy Awards |url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/48th-annual-grammy-awards |access-date=April 20, 2023 |website=Recording Academy Grammy Awards}}</ref>

In 2006, the group released ''Lifesong Live'', which included live performances of songs from their studio album ''Lifesong''. Rapper Ice T appeared on the release, rapping on a hidden track called "Hustle For Him."

The band's third studio album ''[[The Altar and the Door]]'' debuted at No.&nbsp;2 on the ''Billboard'' 200 albums chart<ref name="altarnthedoor ">{{cite journal | title=Casting Crowns 'The Altar and the Door' Debuts at No.&nbsp;2 | journal=[[CCM Magazine]] | date=September 2007 | url=http://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/headlines/11553550/casting%20crowns/ | access-date=September 16, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and No.&nbsp;1 on the Hot Christian Albums chart upon its release in August 2007. Ten weeks after the album's release date, it was certified gold by the [[RIAA]].<ref name="ccm2007september ">{{cite journal | title=The Altar and the Door Certified Gold by RIAA in Ten Weeks | journal=[[CCM Magazine]] | date=September 2007 | url=http://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/headlines/11553550/casting%20crowns/ | access-date=November 16, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On September 27, 2007, the band embarked on the Altar and the Door tour with [[Leeland (band)|Leeland]] and [[John Waller (musician)|John Waller]]. The tour was very successful grossing $4.4&nbsp;million in ticket sales.<ref name="ccm2007december ">{{cite journal | title=Casting Crowns Dominates Christian Music in 2007 | journal=[[CCM Magazine]] | date=December 2007 | url=http://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/headlines/11562037/casting%20crowns/ | access-date=November 16, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Casting Crowns broke their own record in 2007 when the single "[[East to West (song)|East to West]]" from ''The Altar and the Door'' hit sixteen consecutive weeks at No.&nbsp;1. The song ended up having the top spot for a total of nineteen weeks, now their most successful single to date. "[[Slow Fade]]" was also released as a single, and was included in the soundtrack of the Kendrick Brothers film starring [[Kirk Cameron]] ''[[Fireproof (film)|Fireproof]]''.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}} In 2008, they scored their eighth number one hit with "[[I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day]]", a track from their newly released [[Christmas]] album titled ''[[Peace on Earth (Casting Crowns album)|Peace on Earth]]''.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

=== Recent history ===
Casting Crowns is one of the rare American bands to ever have been invited to visit [[North Korea]]. They attended the 2009 Spring Friendship Arts Festival in [[Pyongyang]] performing with the [[Annie Moses Band]]. It was Casting Crowns' second invitation to the festival sponsored by Global Resource Services, the first time being in 2007.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Young | first=Eric | title=Casting Crowns Heads Home After North Korea Trip  | journal=[[The Christian Post]] | date=April 21, 2009 |url=http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090421/casting-crowns-heads-home-after-north-korea-trip/index.html | access-date=October 23, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last=French | first=Rose | title=Musicians hope to ease tensions in North Korea | journal=[[USA Today]] | date=April 11, 2009 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/states/tennessee/2009-04-11-2447326404_x.htm?loc=interstitialskip | access-date=November 16, 2009 }}</ref> On August 30, 2009, they performed on ''[[Huckabee]]'', [[Mike Huckabee]]'s political show.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 27, 2009 |title=Casting Crowns to Perform on Fox News Channel's "Huckabee" Show This Weekend |url=https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2009/08/27.CASTING%20CROWNS%20TO%20PERFORM%20ON%20FOX%20NEWS%20CHANNELS%20HUCKABEE%20SHOW%20THIS%20WEEKEND.asp |access-date=July 7, 2023 |website=Jesus Freak Hideout}}</ref>

Casting Crowns' fourth major studio album, ''[[Until the Whole World Hears]]'', was released on November 17, 2009, debuting at No.&nbsp;4 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and selling over 167,000 copies in its first week alone, setting a new record for the highest Christian album debut in history.<ref name="JFH25November2009" /> It was certified gold within four weeks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2009/12/21.CASTING%20CROWNS%20CERTIFIES%20RIAA%20GOLD%20IN%20FOUR%20WEEKS.asp |title=Music News, December 2009: Casting Crowns Certifies RIAA Gold in Four Weeks with New Album Until the Whole World Hears |publisher=Jesusfreakhideout.com |access-date=November 7, 2012}}</ref> The title track and first single from the album became the group's ninth No.&nbsp;1 single in January 2010.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}} In April 2010, they won the Dove Award for Artist of the Year,<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 22, 2010 |title=Casting Crowns wins artist of year at Dove Awards |url=https://www.deseret.com/2010/4/22/20110338/casting-crowns-wins-artist-of-year-at-dove-awards |access-date=April 20, 2023 |website=Deseret News}}</ref> their first ever win in that category. A music video for the title track of ''Until the Whole World Hears'' was posted on the band's YouTube page on August 23, 2010.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

The track "[[Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)|Glorious Day]]" was released as a single in 2011 and reached No.&nbsp;1 on ''Billboard'' [[Christian Songs]] during the week of April 23, 2011.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

"[[Courageous (Casting Crowns song)|Courageous]]" was released as a single on July 19, 2011. The music video for the song was released on June 13, 2011, and promotes the film ''[[Courageous (film)|Courageous]]''. The song was featured on, ''Come to the Well'', which was released on October 18, 2011.{{Citation needed |date=November 2012}} "[[Jesus, Friend of Sinners]]", the album's second single, was released in 2012.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}} In 2012, Josh Mix joined the band, replacing guitar player Hector Cervantes.<ref>Josh Mix [https://twitter.com/infamousjoshmix/status/285855581481361409 Twitter post]. December 31, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2013.</ref>

''[[The Acoustic Sessions: Volume One]]'', was released on January 22, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cmaddict.com/article_page.php?article_id=196 |title=Casting Crowns New Album Release Date and Cover Art &#124; Article &#124; CMADDICT.com |access-date=November 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121220012634/http://www.cmaddict.com/article_page.php?article_id=196 |archive-date=December 20, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://castingcrowns.com/updates/new-casting-crowns-acoustic-album-2077| title=New Casting Crowns Acoustic Album|website=Castingcrowns.com| date=November 15, 2012 |access-date=November 17, 2012}}</ref> In early 2013, the band recorded their own version of the hymn "I Surrender All" for the album ''Jesus, Firm Foundation''. Also, lead singer [[Mark Hall (musician)|Mark Hall]] recorded the title song with Mike Donehey of [[Tenth Avenue North]], [[Steven Curtis Chapman]], and [[Mandisa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://castingcrowns.com/updates/casting-crowns-mark-hall-featured-new-worship-hymns-album-2271 |title=Casting Crowns Mark Hall Featured New Worship Hymns Album|website=Castingcrowns.com|date=March 5, 2013|access-date=December 2, 2013}}</ref> Ending the year, the band joined Chapman, [[Natalie Grant]], [[Matthew West]], and other artists on "The Story Tour 2013" performing songs from ''The Story''.<ref>[http://castingcrowns.com/blogs/crowns-news/world-vision-presents-story-tour-2013-returning-christmas-unprecedented-multi-artist-line Casting Crowns & Mark Hall Featured on New Worship Hymns Album] World Vision Presents The Story Tour 2013, Returning This Christmas With Unprecedented Multi-Artist Line-Up. October 31, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2013.</ref>

In September 2013, the band released "All You've Ever Wanted",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/All-Youve-Ever-Wanted/dp/B00F4IIOAQ |title=Amazon.com: All You've Ever Wanted: Casting Crowns: MP3 Downloads |website=Amazon |access-date=December 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210023204/http://www.amazon.com/All-Youve-Ever-Wanted/dp/B00F4IIOAQ |archive-date=December 10, 2013  }}</ref> the first single from ''[[Thrive (Casting Crowns album)|Thrive]]'' which was released on January 28, 2014.<ref name="jfh">{{cite web |url=http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/CastingCrownsThrive.asp |title=Casting Crowns, "Thrive" Review |last=Rice |first=Mark |date=January 21, 2014 |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout |access-date=January 29, 2014}}</ref> and charted No. 6 in ''Billboard''{{'}}s Top 200 in its first week. In early 2015, Casting Crowns released the hymns-album, ''[[Glorious Day - Hymns of Faith]]'', exclusively through [[Cracker Barrel]] Old Country Stores. The album includes their ''[[Until the Whole World Hears]]'' singles "[[Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)|Glorious Day]]" and "Blessed Redeemer", and acoustic versions of "[[If We Are the Body]]" and "[[Praise You in This Storm]]" as well as eight hymns, mostly covers.{{Citation needed|date=April 2015}} In November 2015, the band released ''[[A Live Worship Experience]]''. The album was recorded live at the band's home church, Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church, and features 12 songs, including worship songs "Great Are You Lord," and "Good Good Father," and their songs "Just Be Held" and "Thrive."<ref name="hal">{{cite web |url=http://www.hallels.com/articles/14025/20151029/casting-crowns-a-live-worship-experience-album-review.htm |title=Casting Crowns, "A Live Worship Experience" Review |last=Yap |first=Timothy |date=October 29, 2015 |publisher=Hallels |access-date=October 29, 2015}}</ref>

On September 16, 2016, the band released their seventh studio album, ''The Very Next Thing'',<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Evans Price|first=Deborah|title=Casting Crowns on First Album Since Recovery: 'I Didn't Want to Write the Post-Cancer Record'|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7511374/casting-crowns-the-very-next-album|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|access-date=October 7, 2016|date=September 20, 2016}}</ref> which was preceded by the single "One Step Away".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Trust|first=Gary|title=Casting Crowns Rule Top Christian Albums Chart With 'The Very Next Thing'|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7526510/casting-crowns-rule-top-christian-albums-chart-with-the-very|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|access-date=October 7, 2016|date=September 30, 2016}}</ref> It was followed by a second single from the album, "Oh My Soul".{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} On October 20, 2017, they released a new EP, ''It's Finally Christmas'', and embarked on "A Glorious Christmas" tour with [[For King & Country (band)|for KING & COUNTRY]] shortly after its release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newreleasetoday.com/news_detail.php?newsid=2548|title=Casting Crowns and for KING & COUNTRY Join Forces on 'A Glorious Christmas' Tour|website=Newreleasetoday.com|access-date=August 26, 2017}}</ref>

On October 11, 2018, the band announced ''Only Jesus'', scheduled for release on November 16, 2018, with a video introduction by Mark Hall and made the title track available to those on their fans list.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[YouTube]]|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=N5CZJeKUwhg&feature=youtu.be |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/N5CZJeKUwhg| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Casting Crowns - The Heart Behind Only Jesus}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://mailchi.mp/castingcrowns/announcing-a-brand-new-album?e=dd4f78ed39 |title=Announcing A Brand New Album! |website=Mailchi.mp |access-date=April 5, 2020}}</ref> On October 12, 2018, they also released to their fans a second track, "Nobody", featuring [[Matthew West]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mailchi.mp/castingcrowns/new-song?e=dd4f78ed39 |title=NEW SONG!! |website=Mailchi.mp |access-date=April 5, 2020}}</ref> On October 19, they released a third track, "In the Hands of the Potter", to those on their fans list.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mailchi.mp/castingcrowns/new-song-1334721?e=dd4f78ed39 |title=NEW SONG!! |website=Mailchi.mp |access-date=April 5, 2020}}</ref> On September 25, the band released the deluxe edition. On June 16, 2021, they released "Scars in Heaven". Andy Williams, the band's former drummer, died on July 9, 2021, at age 49 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident on June 27.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/obituary/9599334/andy-williams-dead-casting-crowns|title=Andy Williams, Former Casting Crowns Drummer, Dies After Motorcycle Accident|website=Billboard.com|access-date=July 14, 2021}}</ref>

In 2023, the band announced The Healer Tour, which included artists [[Ben Fuller (singer)|Ben Fuller]] and [[We Are Messengers]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Casting Crowns Announces "The Healer Tour" With We Are Messengers And Ben Fuller |url=https://www.offbeat.com/news/casting-crowns-announces-the-healer-tour-with-we-are-messengers-and-ben-fuller/#:~:text=With%20more%20than%2012%20million,of%20powerful%20worship%20and%20music. |website=Offbeat |access-date=30 October 2023 |date=11 April 2023}}</ref>